The Memory Project Commemorating Canada’s Military Mission in Afghanistan

Londoners will have a chance to learn about the impact of Canada’s military mission in Afghanistan through a special event today.

The Memory Project, run by Historica Canada, invites veterans and active members of the Canadian Forces to share their service experience with members of the public.

Wednesday’s event at the Royal Canadian Regiment Museum on Oxford will focus on Afghanistan and will feature retired Corporal George Myatte will share his military story in honour of this date alongside retired Sergeant Max Smith.

President and CEO of Historica Canada, Anthony Wilson-Smith, said we often forget the magnitude of the Afghanistan mission.

“We were in there for 13 years, we went in right after 9-11, more than 40,000 Canadians in the military served over there, and we lost 158 lives and there was some terrible, terrible fighting in which, in fact, a number of the members of the Royal Canadian Regiment, which has it’s roots around there, were involved,” said Wilson-Smith.

Wilson-Smith adds many soldiers speak about their experiences with PTSD from their time in the war-torn country.

“Some of them are quite willing to talk about that, which in itself is a very health thing too, and a very important thing to recognize,” he said. “I was in Afghanistan as a reporter years back, it’s a terrible country at the best of times and it’s never the best of times there, and you never come back from conflict unchanged, it’s just not possible, so it’s remarkable to listen to these people.”

The event on Wednesday, which is free and open to the public, runs from 11a.m. until 1p.m.

The Memory Project also has an online archive of servicemen and women sharing their stories, it’s available here.

Through an online archive and speakers bureau, more than 1.5 million Canadians have heard their stories. Historica Canada is the country’s largest organization dedicated to enhancing awareness of Canada’s history and citizenship.